Yet another successful crowdfunding effort on the way through Kickstarter.

This one's for "The Goon" from Blur Studios in Venice, California. The project's been around for a while based on the popular comic book. They're attempting to raise $400,000 in 30 days. With 26 days left they're already at $118,571 through 1,631 backers. A great beginning as they're well on their way towards reaching their goal and going beyond it.

awesome! I'd like learn more about what goes on behind the scenes. Promotions wise. Like how many people do they have pushing the fund raiser. Where do they get the majority of their contributions from. etc. its cool to say, put a kickstarter campaign together, cool video, what have you..but I'd like to hear more stories about the hustle behind the hustle.

As of this writing they're at $133,744 with 24 days to go. They're 20% into the campaign at 33% of their $400K goal so they look to be on target to make it.

From my observations on Kickstarter campaigns the most successful ones are those that involve projects with a substantial following already established and that have good rewards for their backers. Campaigns that are used to pre-sell products do well too.

So let's say you've got a popular online comic and a supportive community and fan base. If you set a realistic goal a little on the modest side and have something appealing to offer your backers you'll do okay.

Promotion is very important. Newsletters are essential as well as an online community that you've developed. Email blasts, Facebook, Twitter, whatever is at your disposal.

This is the way of the future. Crowdfunding is here to stay. I bet you'll see even major studios getting involved with it at some point. Blur Studios is behind this one and I expect there'll be a lot more studios taking aim at their fan base to raise the funding they need that they would typically go to investors for. Crowdfunding is a great way to raise money without getting involved with investment bankers, financial institutions, venture capitalists, etc. All the old guard that were essential for funding projects. In many ways they're becoming as obsolete as painting animation cels by hand.

I think there'll be a place for them as far as short term funding for a Kickstarter campaign. Providing the financing to organize a campaign. Then when the campaign is funded they're paid back and you don't necessarily have to cut them in for the equity on your project. At least not on the level that you would expect from before the days of crowdfunding.

And this is still new! These are the early days of this system. No telling where it could go from here. Bright future for independents! This is really helping out.

Here at AnimationNation, we welcome creative individuals and groups who have a Kickstarter campaign in the works or are engaged in a crowdfunding endeavor.

We always have and we always will.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the psychotic critics and historians we have in our industry.

Take for example good ol Amid Amidi at Cartoonbrew who's made it a long standing policy of his site NOT to promote Kickstarter campaigns. Unless of course he finds an opportunity to manufacture a controversy out of it as he has with this campaign involving The Goon.

Once again, the critic who has no shame and even less self respect has taken it upon himself to launch a crusade against an enemy who does not exist.

Instead of supporting Kickstarter campaigns and crowdfunding for artists who are trying to get their independent projects going, he chooses to indulge in his typically ignorant, misinformed and misleading hate fest which has become his trademark. He exchanges his credibility for traffic, a strategy that has worked very well for him over the years in spite of the fact that more and more people are figuring out what this guy is all about.

Why is the yellow journalism of Amid Amidi tolerated by our community? Why does our community put up with someone who is not an artist yet behaves as if he has infallibility. He won't promote your Kickstarter projects but he'll find any reason he can to tear something down. Why do you guys put up with this? Can't you see he's playing our community?

In his own way he's just as bad as an executive. Animation artists embrace their abusers and attack their own brethren. Stop the dysfunction and stop tolerating these guys who don't have your best interests in mind.

If they won't promote your independent crowdfunding projects and Kickstarter campaigns on Cartoonbrew then what good are they to us? News oriented sites are one thing. Op-eds based upon ignorance, bias, jealousy, hatred, misinformation and misrepresentation are something else altogether.

Stand up for yourselves people and stop supporting the non-artists that don't support YOU.

In just 7 hours time since my last post on the topic pledges have increased by nearly $14,000 to $372,127 with 2 days and 11 hours left to the campaign. Blur is in good position and on target for reaching their $400K goal. Rooting for these guys to make it!